Week Four: New Delegate, State of State, Pit Bull Hearing

Week Four: New Delegate, State of State, Pit Bull Hearing

Governor Martin O'Malley delivering his "State of the State Address" last year. He will speak to the legislature on Wednesday. (AP file photo)

State lawmakers return to Annapolis tonight for the fourth week of the 2013 Session of the Maryland General Assembly.

This afternoon, House Speaker Michael Busch will swear-in the newest delegate, Democrat Darren Swain, who will represent the 24th district in Prince George's County.

Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Swain, a former state lawmaker to fill the seat of Delegate Tiffany Alston.

Last year, she pleaded guilty to settle a pair of misconduct charges. Alston lost a court battle to try to keep her seat.

Before the full House and Senate convene tonight, the Senate Executive Nominations Committee holds confirmation hearings on about three dozen nominations submitted by Governor Martin O'Malley. That includes PSC Chairman Doug Nazarian, who the governor has nominated to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

On Wednesday, Governor Martin O'Malley delivers his annual "State of the State Address" to a joint session of the legislature.

The governor is expected to talk about his proposals on gun control, wind energy, and the effort to repeal the death penalty. O'Malley is also expected to talk about increasing transportation revenue, either in the form of an increased gasoline tax, or a sales tax on gasoline. Several ideas are being considered, but the governor has not endorsed any specific proposal.

Later in the day Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on legislation defining liability for dog owners for any injuries their dogs may cause.

Under the bill, all dog owners would be responsible for any injuries their dogs would cause, if they knew their dogs were prone to attack. Landlords would also be held responsible for the dog attacks of their tenants if they knew the dog was dangerous.

The legislation is in response to a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling last year that defined pit bulls as "inherently dangerous."

On Thursday, the House Health and Government Operations Committee holds a hearing on a House bill to designate the soft shell crab sandwich, the state's official sandwich.

Supporters say the bill would help promote the Maryland seafood industry. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate.

Last year's ruling by Maryland's highest court made pit bull owners and landlords strictly liable for dog bites without previous evidence of a dog being dangerous. The court's decision caused an outcry from pet owners and animal rights activists who said it ruled out a single breed and made it harder for homeless pit bulls to be adopted.

Opponents also said the strict liability standard on landlords forced pet owners to choose between their pets and their homes.

Delegate Luiz R.S. Simmons, a Montgomery County Democrat, said the measure would restore the liability standard for landlords that existed before the ruling.